Convertible tennis net mounting



Jul 31, 1934.

w. E. STAFF I 1,968,720

CONVERTIBLE TENNIS NET MOUNTING Filed April 21, 1935 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented July 31, 1934 'JQHZUNITED STATES P E TOFFICE i 1,968,720 CONVERTIBLE TENNIS NE'VIYMOUNMTING William E. Staff, Jenkintown, Pa. Application April 21, 1933, Serial No. 667,266

40mins. (01.273 36 l The invention relates to a tennis net mounting and more especiallyto supports for tennis nets. I The primary object of the invention is the provision of a mounting or support of this char-* 1 "i acter, wherein a miniature tennis net, although it may be of standard kind, can be conveniently erectedfor use in the playing of the game of lawn tennis and such net held in proper condition to avoid sagging thereof under severe usage of the same resultant from the impact of the tennis balls during the playing of the game of tennis.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a mounting or support of this character, wherein the same is of a portable knockdown kind Hi-I and when set up will sustain the tennis net in playing condition for the game of tennis,'the mounting or support being of novel form and construction.

A further object of the invention is the pro- 20 Eivision of a mounting or support of this character which is extremely simple in construction, thoroughly efficacious in its purpose, strong, durable, readily and easily set up and knocked down as the occasion may require, and inexpensive to 251 imanufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described in detail, illus- SOIiItrated in the accompanying drawing, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention, and pointed out in the claims hereunto ap pended.

In the accompanying drawing:

35111 Figure 1 is an elevation of a tennis net set up with the supports or mountings constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged elevation of one of the supports.

40 1 Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevation of the main post of the mounting or support.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevation of a slight 453" modification.

Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a perspective of the base to which one end of the U-shaped supports is attached. 5 Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawing. I

Referring to the drawing in detail, particularly Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, which is the preferred 55" embodiment of the present invention, A designates generally a tennis net, in this instance of a miniature'type the same being providedat each end with upper .and lower loop-like connectors 10, these being located atthe corners of'such end and preferably madefrom rope'or other like form. The connectors 10 at each end are adapted to be detachably engaged with hooks 11 carriedby a tubular section 12 constituting what might be termed a spool or roller, the same being fitted for rotation upon an inverted substantially U- shaped stand at the limb 13 thereof. This limb 13, at its terminal, is threaded at 14 in a central lug 15 of a base 16 of substantially disk form which may be brought to rest upon a foundation and made firm through the use of suitable fasteners 17 thereupon. The limb 18, which is of less length than the limb 13, is removably fitted within a socket 19 of a sill 20 which may also be made fixed or detachable for rest upon the foundation having the base 16. The inner face of the sill 20 carries a buffer strip 21. This sill may constitute the marginal frame of a game board for the playing of miniature tennis.

The limb 13, above the spool or roller 12, has slidably fitted thereon a clutch collar 21 having the clutch projection 22 to engage in a companion notch 23 in the spool or roller 12 at the end next to the collar 21, the collar being slidably fitted through the instrumentality of a cross coupling 24 working within elongated slots 25 in the collar 21 so that the collar may be moved into clutching or unclutching relation to the spool or roller 12. When the collar 21 is unclutched from the spool or roller 12 the latter may be turned to effect the winding or unwinding of the connectors 10 thereon, as well as the end portion of the net A, should the occasion require, and in this fashion such net A may be set up in playing condition for the game of tennis, as should be obvious. When the net A has been rendered taut to the required degree for the playing of the game of tennis, the clutch collar 21 is clutched with the spool or roller 12, thereby locking the same against rotation and thus sustaining the next in its proper set up condition.

In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawing there is shown a slight modification, wherein the limb 26, which is a substitute for the limb 18 of the stand, is fitted within a tubular upright 2'7, the latter having a bifurcated lower end 28 for saddling or straddling an anchoring plate 29 within the center recess 30 therein. This plate 29 carries attaching lugs 31, each being insertable in a suitable socket 32 in a base piece 33, while intermediate with respect to these lugs is an opening 34 formed in said 1. The combination with a tennis net, of a mounting at each end thereof including an inverted substantially U-shaped member, means for.v

holding the member in upright position, a roller rotatably supported on one limb of themember, means for connecting the end of the net adjacent to the roller therewith, and means for locking the roller against rotation. e

2. The combination with a tennis net, of connectors at opposite ends thereof, a mounting at each end of the net and including an inverted .U.- shaped member, means for Iasteningone limb of the member, a base for the other limb of the mem-. her, a roller journaledoon one limb of the member and having hooks for the connectors; and a clutch collar carried by said member and, engageable with the roller to latch the same. against rota tion. w 3. The convertible combination with a tennis net or ping-pong net, of a mounting at each end thereof including an inverted substantially U- shaped member, or posts, means for holding the posts in an upright position, a roller rotatably supported on one limb of this U-shaped member, and said roller having two books thereon, one set one inch from the bottommost part of its end while the upper hook is set three inches from its end, said tubular section" having a notch at both ends permitting same to be reversed, thereby making possible a change of two inches in the height of tennis net, means for connecting the end of the net adjacent to the roller therewith, and means for locking the roller against rotation and keeping the net taut.

4. The combination of the convertible tennis net mountings with a tennis net, of connectors at opposite ends, a mounting at each end of the net and including an inverted U-shaped member, 

